Charlene Brown

Charlene Brown is owner of Island Dance and Gymnastics in Langley, Washington and brings nearly 50+ years of dance experience to her studio. Charlene has studied with nationally known teachers, and was a member of the Tacoma Performing Dance Company under the direction of Jo Emery. 

 

Her choreography has been seen in numerous Northwest area musicals, local high school musicals, Song and Dance reviews, Kaleidoscope of Dance, Jazz alive, Other Moves and WIDT Nutcrackers.

 

After moving to Whidbey Island from Bremerton in 1985, Charlene began her dance studio, Island Dance. She is committed to offering the highest possible level of dance education and professional instructors to her students. Through many years of perseverance, Charlene has provided the opportunity for thousands of students to further their dance education. Many of her students have gone on to college and received degrees in dance, some going onto professional dance careers, while many more of her students have won individual titles and honors in dance. All of her students regardless of how far they take their dancing, have gained the valuable confidence to be able to express themselves through dance on stage with large crowds in attendance.

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In 1993, extending her commitment to the art of choreography, Charlene's dream of a pre-professional dance company became a reality in Whidbey Island Dance Theatre. As the founding/artistic director and current co-artistic director and production manager, she has overseen 27 productions of The Nutcracker, The Snow Queen and all annual WIDT spring concerts. Charlene also choreographs for The Nutcracker and is advisor to the WIDT Board of Directors.

 

In her words, "My Mother started me in dance classes when I was 2 1/2  years old and she instilled her love for dance into me and my sisters. I have devoted most of life to dance and always loved to perform but my real passion was to teach and have a facility where anyone could come and learn a variety of dance forms, my goal has always been to share dance with people of all ages so they can feel the joy of movement that I have felt all these years and experience this beautiful art form that I truly love. I want to thank my husband and family for always allowing me to follow my dreams in owning my studio on beautiful Whidbey Island.